The head of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, Taulant Balla, dismissed on Monday opposition calls for political upheaval and warned against attempts to block key reforms, saying the ruling party is prepared to move forward even without opposition participation.

Speaking at the Conference of Parliamentary Leaders, Balla said there was no place for “ineffective calls for revolutions that will not happen,” accusing the opposition of preparing excuses for future electoral defeat.

Balla stressed that the Socialist Party is ready to fully cooperate on major reforms, including drafting a new Electoral Code in line with international standards and revising Albania’s territorial administrative division.

He said the Special Committee on Electoral Reform must address recommendations from the OSCE/ODIHR, with particular emphasis on the full depoliticization of election administration. “It is unacceptable for a country aspiring to EU membership that political parties both compete and count the votes,” Balla said.

He also highlighted the need to shorten the vote-counting process, suggesting that ballots could be counted directly at polling stations to avoid prolonged delays in announcing results. According to Balla, time constraints make reform urgent ahead of the 2027 local elections.

Balla warned that withdrawing from agreed parliamentary committees would constitute a unilateral breach of a previous agreement, adding that the majority would continue the reform process regardless.

The Socialist Party, he noted, is also seeking a deeper constitutional reform that could reduce the number of lawmakers in parliament to 100 or 101, a change that would require a qualified majority of 84 votes.

Responding to opposition claims that their right to speak had been restricted, Balla cited parliamentary data showing the opposition had more debate time than the ruling majority during the previous session.